18th to Pershore to Evesham and
We were all up early on Monday morning as Juliet had a taxi to pick her up to take her back to her car in Evesham at 08:00. After she had gone, the three of us had a quick breakfast, after which Paul started work and Bruce and I began moving the boat back towards Evesham, where Bruce’s car was.
Bruce had stayed on because he has a funeral to go to in nearby Leamington Spa the next day. As we cruised along, we saw beekeepers doing some beekeeping at one of the very posh waterside properties in Fladbury. We also spotted Wood Norton Hotel nestling among the trees. Wood Norton has been at various times home of the Duc D’Orleans, a BBC wartime outpost and later a BBC training centre. It has even had starring roles in BBC productions, ably Dr Who.
We eventually arrived at Chadbury Lock to find that one of the boats there seemed to have been there since Friday evening which is a bit naughty (although maybe there was a problem, to be charitable?). We also found that someone had emptied the contents of their loo on the lockside. Disgusting! And stinky.
We did a bit of strimming and lopping around the slightly hidden ANT mooring by the weir and settled down for the night. During the day, I had made a crumble with the foraged damsons. I’d also made some Creme Anglaise but the less said about that the better. Suffice to say it split. Annoying.
We watched a couple of episodes of the new Alien spinoff. Not bad but just not scary enough, I feel. Maybe we have already had all the scares that the Alien concept can mete out? The original film was the best and genuinely scary – mainly because it was fresh, I guess? We’ll probably still watch, though.
On Tuesday morning, we brought the boat the remainder of the way down to Evesham. As we passed through Hampton Ferry, we noticed it was flower bedecked. We presumed it had been used by a wedding party as there is a church about 400m from the ferry. What a thoroughly lovely way to arrive!
Once we had tied up, Bruce nipped off to get his car. He returned, donned his funeral suit and left. And then it was just us!
I was working away on my laptop when a knock on the door made me jump. It was Helen from Professor Pat Pending! I invited her and Russell over for coffee and we had a quick catch up and set the world to rights, before they returned to their boat. Later in the day they invited us over for drinks and this time, Paul was able to join us.
We had a late dinner, a spot of tv and then bed as we planned an early start. We didn’t expect to wake up and find that it was raining! But it was – not heavy, just fine drizzly rain. The kind that gets you thoroughly damp. We did the lock in silence as it was so early and then Paul sent me indoors as there was little point in us both getting wet. And it was chilly too. We are definitely not used to this! It made me want to use the “C” word. No! Not that one! I meant coat. Tsk.
We had planned to get to Offenham but as it was raining, we thought we’d try the ANT mooring we’d spotted near a location called (\\\soccer.firepower.painter) “the valley” as it was nearer. Sadly there were already two boats on it, so we had to press on to Offenham after all.
The damp journey up to Offenham was brightened by two kingfishers, looking as if they were having a scrap over territory. They were oblivious to everything except their battle so Paul managed to get one reasonable shot of one of them. It’s always such a thrill to see that flash of electric blue.
We arrived at Offenham to find no boats, quickly did the lock, domestics and had our pick of the nice quiet moorings. It’s very hushed on board without all our guests, but a nice break from cooking, planning the next meal and all the other logistics associated with having guests around.
We were joined later in the day by other boats but they all departed in the morning, leaving us in solitary splendour again. It’s very nice here, quiet, with plenty of dog walking options. So nice, in fact, that we stayed another night and set off Friday morning, looking forward to the long Bank Holiday weekend.
We locked up through Harvington lock (where we swam) and Marcliffe (where we paddled) and on along the rural and lush river towards Bidford on Avon. We had not stopped there on the way downriver and we might have stopped that day – except the VMs were chocker. As it was lunchtime I suggested we quickly rang the Bridge and check if we could moor there for lunch – we’d have our main meal of the day there. They were happy to welcome us.
We had a delicious meal – me Calves Liver and Bacon with Spinach, etc. and Paul had a Swordfish Steak with Greek Salad and skinny fries. All delicious, I can report. We always taste each other’s.
After lunch we pootled up through Barton Lock, winded above it and pulled over for the day. We quickly put the washing out and settled down for a read and maybe a slight beepy? You can see our route and how rural the river is in the pic below. We came from bottom left to top right.
By the way – as we were passing the through the water meadows, a kid, out with his parents, said “Wow! That’s the coolest boat I’ve ever seen!” We’ll take that!
We had the entire ANT moorings to ourselves Rather lovely to be in solitary splendour. There was very little light pollution and the sky was studded with stars. A lovely quiet spot and I’ve never seen it so empty!
We came down through Barton Lock again on Saturday and as we were nearing Bidford, we saw a sheep standing in the shallows (although maybe up to her shoulders) and looking discomfited. She’d clearly taken a step too far and then a swim, as the rest of the flock were in the field on the opposite side of the river. I began to search for local farms and then we saw people in the garden just above where she was. They told us they were waiting for the farmer to come and collect it. That would have been something to watch – I doubt the farmer would have remained dry!
We had a wait at Marcliffe lock – a boat half way down and another to come up before we took our turn. The halfway down boat had clearly seen us behind them,as they had pulled out in front of us from the Bidford VMs. I guess they were in a hurry and we were too slow for them? it’s a touch annoying in these times when the need to share locks and save water was never so important. Maybe they think it doesn’t matter on a river? Or that it doesn’t apply to them?
Next was Harvington Lock – one of my favourites – although it’s a bit of a pig to do, having two sets of very slow-winding paddles on each gate. And they have to be wound down (47 winds!) too – unlike most locks, where gravity assists you. But it’s a lovely location and the cows are always out paddling below the weir.
We did a bit of gardening on our way out, having noticed overhanging branches narrowing the passage. And also seen a Tupperware boat nearly come to grief on it. Stupidly, we forgot to take before photos, so you’ll just have to believe us! We disposed of the trimmings in the hedgerow. Job done.
We did services at Offenham, before reversing back and having lunch. That would do us for today. We had a turn out of one of the drawers, did some planning, and generally squandered the remainder of the day, which is nice occasionally.
I’m beginning to think people are avoiding us, because we had yet another night in solitary splendour. There was a boat on the VMs when we arrived but they soon shoved off, leaving us alone and palely loitering. Just how we like it!
We were up and away before 08:30 and it was a beautiful, peaceful cruise – although we frightened a few fisherfolk! It was unusually still – not a breath of wind. And we saw a Kingfisher on the same stretch – patrolling his patch, I guess?
We arrived in Evesham in plenty of time and as we approached the moorings I heard a metallic clack. An unmistakable sound to my ears. Boules! As we were mooring up, one of the players came over to ask about the boat. We told them about it and mentioned that we play and have our boules on board. They very quickly invited us to join them and there followed a very pleasant and quite close game, with me on one team and Paul on another. I’m happy to report that my team won. 13-10.
Like most sports, you have to keep playing to retain form. It’s been months since we played but I think neither of us embarrassed ourselves, even though we are a bit rusty. And they were a great and very friendly bunch, just playing for the fun of it. We really enjoyed it. and meeting them.
Once our groceries had arrived, we set off with a plan to get out in the countryside, hoping that there’d be a space at Chadbury or failing that, Fladbury Lock.
Le tous Evesham was en Fete! There was a massive Angling Competition that spanned 3 days (Sat to Mon) and an accompanying event with stalls and a fair and they all seemed to be doing a brisk trade on this sunny Sunday. The fisherman stretched from Abbey Park all the way past the Hampton Ferry, located about every 50 feet!
We had to wait at Hampton Ferry for the the line that the ferryman uses to pull the ferry across the river to be dropped under water. The ferryman – aged about 15 – was also doing a brisk trade.
When we rounded the corner on the approach to Chadbury Lock, it was evident that we would be in luck – a great spot with no-one else around. We quickly tied up and made it ours. We’d barely seen a boat on the move all day – which seemed a bit odd for the last Bank Hol of the year, but a couple came up through the lock after we had moored. And we were visited by the very vocal swan who seems to hang out round these parts. Our 3rd solitary night on the trot!
Next week will see us returning to Pershore, where we have arranged to meet friends Peta & Steve Reading – their first visit since 2022 on the Ashby. We’ll probably go all the way down to Tewkesbury with them and maybe ooto the Severn, as our appointment in Droitwich in mid-September draws ever closer. Fom Tuesday 26th, our route back to Brinklow is blocked for the foreseeable future because various locks, which have been on restricted opening, are closed UFN. We have no idea, currently, what we will do. It’s a case of que sera sera.
| Period | Miles | Locks |
| 18th to 24th August | 32 | 13 |
| Cumulative 2025 | 370 | 232 |